Vacation Leave has a new and better site – http://www.vacationleave.blogspot.com/
The next stop of our 5-hour Legazpi itinerary was the Cagsawa ruins. The Cagsawa belfry is a staple in almost every postcard that glorifies the moody volcano. To picture Mayon without the tower is like to paint the New York skyline without the Empire State Building. They simply cannot be drawn or photographed without the other.
The belfry is the lone surviving testament of Mayon’s treacherous temperament that buried the whole town of Cagsawa on the 1st day of February, 1814. The bells had long been silenced by time, and the tower that held it now serves as a gravestone for the 1,200 souls that were trapped in the church that used to stand beside it.
After waiting in vain for the clouds to leave the volcano, we headed to the entrance of the site where pasalubong shops littered the area. It took some time before we could decide what handicrafts and delicacies to buy for our friends and siblings back in Manila. It’s a good thing that our tricycle driver, which agreed to lend the rest of his morning to us, was very patient and considerate (and for P180 only!).
Nuestra Senora de la Porteria
Our next destination was fortunately untouched by the lahar that leveled a good part of the Bicol landscape. The Daraga Church is God’s oldest mansion in the province. Built mainly of volcanic rocks, it has survived a number of eruptions, including the one that entombed its next-town neighbor.
The baroque structure sits on top of a hill, so prepare for a short steep hike if you’re going on foot. If you’re climbing on three wheels as we did, say a little prayer before you let manong driver attempt to drive you through the church’s doorsteps. Our tricycle’s motor cried and wheezed a worrying sound that made us appreciate the fact that we haven’t eaten yet. A bowl of rice prior to the climb would have probably resulted in a foot-assisted push for the tricycle, with us providing the extra horsepower.
The façade of the Nuestra Senora de la Porteria (Our Lady of the Gate) features four columns that, while still prominent, seem to also blend seamlessly with the carvings. Four medallions decorate the pillars, each representing a gospel in the bible. While the façade retained its 1773 appearance, the church’s interior seemed to have been recently renovated. The tranquility inside the church is noticeable. One might even hear himself pray in silence. The altar is simple, yet its simplicity might actually be its charm.
Waway’s Restaurant
After saying a short prayer, we headed back to Legazpi for our final stop – Waway’s! We’ve searched the Net for highly-recommended restaurants in the city, and Waway’s was consistently being mentioned as a good haven for those who seek to relish the city’s local dishes. The ride to Penaranda St. was quite long although it was worth the trip. The first thing that we looked and asked for was the Bicol Express. Fearing that we might need something to put the fire out of our tongue, we ordered soda, lots of them. The first bite lived up to its billing. It was delicious! It wasn’t as spicy as we thought it would be. The chicharong bulaklak and pork sisig complemented the Bicol delicacy excellently.
Peek-a-boo!
It was already 12 noon and it was time for us to go back to the airport for our early afternoon flight. Cebu Pacific made us wait for a while, but we didn’t mind as we were still hoping that the clouds would give in to our request for it to leave the volcano. Our hope faded when the 40-minute delay was not extended anymore as we were already called to board the aircraft. Just when we were about to go inside, it happened – Mayon winked! It blew away the clouds for a few seconds. We quickly frisked and scampered ourselves for a camera. The view was awesome. What a way to write fin to our Legazpi vacation! 
